Concerns have been raised over U.S. Customs and Border Protection's announcement that it will be making its presence known at FIFA Club World Cup matches nationwide, stating it will be “suited and booted” for the events, NBC Miami reported Tuesday.
The agency, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security and is led by Secretary Kristi Noem, announced via social media that it’s prepared to “provide security for the first round of games.”
Kicking off the tournament, Inter Miami — captained by Lionel Messi — will take on Egypt’s Al-Ahly in South Florida on Saturday evening. Following that, matches are set to take place in cities including Los Angeles, Seattle, Cincinnati, and New Jersey on Sunday.
Interestingly, the statement CBP posted on Tuesday was taken down the next day. This removal has stirred uncertainty about what role federal agents will actually play at these matches, especially as public skepticism toward immigration enforcement continues to rise.
“Let the games begin!” said the CBP post.
“The first FIFA Club World Cup games start on June 14th in Miami… CBP will be suited and booted and ready to provide security for the first round of games," it added.
NBC Miami further reported that Thomas Kennedy, a policy analyst with the Florida Immigrant Coalition, expressed concern that the involvement of federal agents could discourage attendance at matches — not only from local fans but also from the tens of thousands of international visitors who were initially expected.
READ MORE: ‘Show. Us. The. Plan.’: Pentagon Chief Ripped for Dodging Budget Details in Heated HearingAccording to the Daily Beast, some fans are already rethinking their plans due to fears tied to immigration enforcement. One fan from Boston, who supports Brazil’s Flamengo, said his group has scrapped plans for public watch parties, citing anxiety over a potential ICE presence, per the report.
Kennedy criticized the agency’s language, stating, “The messaging that CBP is using is a bit cryptic; it’s sort of alluding that people should have their paperwork in order to attend the games.” He added that this kind of communication “creates an environment where people are less likely to come watch the games because of just sheer intimidation.”